WASHAERP Project Set to Improve Water Access for 90,000 Residents

The Freetown Water Supply and Aquatic Environment Revamping Project (WASHAERP) is expected to improve access to safe and reliable water for about 90,000 residents in Greater Freetown’s mountain communities through major upgrades to the Guma Valley Water Company’s Babadorie Raw Water Storage Facility.

A high-level delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), led by Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Dr. Abdul Kamara, inspected ongoing works at the Regent-based facility, which is a key component of the project.

The rehabilitation and expansion works are aimed at strengthening water storage capacity and reducing dry-season shortages in communities that have long faced water supply challenges.

Guma Valley Water Company Managing Director, Ing. Mariwan Kallon, thanked the AfDB and development partners for their support, describing the project as a transformative investment that will improve access to safe water while supporting public health, sanitation, and economic development.

The expanded system will benefit communities including Regent, Babadorie, Gloucester, Leicester, IMATT, and Hill Station. The existing reservoir has been increased from 60,000 to 72,000 cubic metres, while nine new steel storage tanks with a combined capacity of 60,000 cubic metres have been constructed, bringing total storage capacity to approximately 132,000 cubic metres.

Dr. Kamara praised the progress made and reaffirmed AfDB’s commitment to supporting water infrastructure development, while noting the need for further investment in water treatment capacity to maximise the benefits of the expanded storage system.

Community representatives welcomed the project, describing it as a long-awaited solution to persistent water shortages. The Babadorie facility upgrade is part of WASHAERP, which also includes the rehabilitation of transmission pipelines and improvements to water distribution infrastructure across the Western Area.

Once completed, the project is expected to significantly reduce dry-season water rationing and provide more reliable water access for about 90,000 residents.